Mirror Photo / Mary Laschinger Kirby
JOINING GILMER ATHLETIC DIRECTOR Jeff Traylor, center, are coaches dating back into Buckeye history as far as the 1950s, starting with Russell Green, who coached in the 1970s but was a quarterback in 1957; Terry Davis, 1980s; Lum Wright, 1960s; Henry Jackson, 60s and 70s, Bruce and Gilmer; Tommy Waggoner, 1979-1981; and Walter Derrick, Bruce High coach. Traylor presented each with a souvenir football which bears the same logo as the patch the players are wearing on their game jerseys.

Athletic Director Jeff Traylor and his staff worked to make the Homecoming Celebration in Gilmer’s 100th year of football extra special. In addition to the usual array of duchesses and sweethearts in their lovely dresses and huge homecoming mums and flowers, Buckeyes from 1944 to 2012 were in attendance with six of the past coaches.

The oldest returning Buckeye was Sidney Rex Moughon from the team in 1944.

Among the surprise guests were Chuck Waggoner, the quarterback of the 1981 state finalist team, and his father Tommy Waggoner, who coached the 1981 team. One of his assistant coaches who succeeded him as head coach, Terry Davis, was also in attendance.

Russell Green was both a former player, having been the quarterback in 1957 as well as a coach in the 1970s.

Representing the 2004 state championship team was Manuel Johnson.

Also on the field in the line which stretched from the south 25 to the north 10 were lawyers, engineers, doctors, players from both the Bruce Dragons and from the Gilmer Buckeyes, all standing as tall as old knees would allow in some cases, to receive the applause of the almost normal size home crowd in attendance in spite of the game experiencing a weather delay.

The entire halftime was devoted to Buckeye activities since the Daingerfield band was unable to come on the revised schedule.

The sweethearts and their escorts are named under the photograph of the group.

Members of the Homecoming Court in addition to Queen Bradena Fort and her escort, Josh Walker, included members of each high school class. Both are seniors.

The other three Senior Duchesses were Kaitlyn Crockett, escorted by Jaidon Parrish; Emily Buettner, escorted by Tanner Barr, and Lacie Roberts, escorted by Dillon Keeling.